Local or American?

The shift from referencing local individuals of Japanese descent from local Japanese to Americans of Japanese Ancestry in Part III of All I Asking for is My Body represents the tensions surrounding the time period in which the story takes place: during World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Particularly after the bombing, Hawaiian and Japanese tensions on the island grew as the threat of losing this island was now an issue. The term local Japanese suddenly instilled fear upon the islands' inhabitants because no one could trust that a local Japanese wasn't going to side with Japan and begin to massacre the Hawaiian people. By labeling oneself as an American of Japanese Ancestry, one demonstrated loyalty to the U.S. allies of Hawaii, and the term became a shield from being lumped with the enemies in Japan. The labeling of "American" became something that made individuals "safe" in Hawaii-- which is ironic because for so long Americans were hated and feared because of the U.S. authority over the islands and their continuation of colonization of Hawaii over the years and now, Americans were on Hawaii's side, their protectors. Becoming "Americans" also creates a greater cultural and identity divide between native Hawaiians and the Japanese "locals" because they are identifying as settlers on the island, rather than as locals.